False-twisting apparatus for producing crimps in filament yarns

ABSTRACT

In a false-twisting apparatus for producing crimps in filament yarns, comprising: a first endless belt applied between two spaced pulleys to have a straightly extending region therebetween and having a plurality of longitudinally running spaced projecting ridges formed on the outer surface thereof, a second endless belt applied between other two spaced pulleys to have a straightly extending region therebetween and having at least one longitudinally running projecting ridge formed on the outer surface of this second belt and opposing, in parallel staggered relation, the straightly extending region of said first belt and travelling in the direction opposite to that of travel of the straightly extending region of said first belt, said at least one projecting ridge in the straightly extending region of said second belt being positioned between adjacent any two of the projecting ridges in the straightly extending region of said first belt, and means for adjusting the parallel distance between the straightly extending regions of the first and the second belts. Filament yarns are passed from one projecting ridge in the straightly extending region of the first belt to a projecting ridge in the similar region of the second belt and therefrom to the next projecting ridge in the similar region of the first belt and so on in alternate contact with the respective projecting ridges. Thus, a very simple-structured, high speed and economic false-twisting operations can be obtained by the use of this apparatus.

United States Patent Takai Oct. 7, 1975 [54] FALSE-TWISTING APPARATUS FOR [57] ABSTRACT PRODUCING CRIMPS IN FILAMENT YARNS In a false-twisting apparatus for producing crimps in [75] Inventor; T k i, Komatsu Japan filament yarns, comprising: a first endless belt applied [73 A I G K K b between two spaced pulleys to have a stra1ghtly ex- Sstgnee' osen ogyo a t tendmg reg1on therebetween and havlng a plurahty of Kalsha KOmatSu Japan longitudinally running spaced projecting ridges formed [22 il 11, 1974 on the outer surface thereof, a second endless belt applied between other two spaced pulleys to have a [21] App! 441565 straightly extending region therebetween and having at least one longitudinally running projecting ridge [3() Foreign Application priority Data formed on the outer surface of this second belt and Feb. 12, 1973 Japan 4846528 opposing in Parallel Staggered relation the straightly extending region of said first belt and travelling in the [52] vs. C! 57/774; 57/7745 dheetteh eppeette te that et have of the ettetghtty 51 Int. c1. D02G 1/04 t h t h Said h' belt t least one [58] Field of Search 57/773, 77.4, 77.42, 77.45, Jeetthg the etta'ghth' extehdthg region of Seth 57/74 HS second belt being positioned between adjacent any two of the projecting ridges in the straightly extending [56] References Cited regicip lof said firs: belt, an}? meanshfpr adjusting the para e distance etween t e straig t y extending re- UNITED STATES PATENTS gions of the first and the second belts. Filament yarns 2,991,614 7/1961 U bbelohde 57/34 HS are passed f one projecting ridge i h straightly extending region of the first belt to a projecting ridge 3:045:4l6 7/1962 Ubbelohde .1: 1.. 57/7745 the Similar F t and therefrom 3,103,097 9/1963 Meili et a1 57 774 to the next Ptoleetthg "ttge the etmttat of the 3,287,890 11/1966 McIntosh et 57/77 4 first belt and so on in alternate contact with the re- 3,345,811 10/1967 Gilchrist 57/34 HS Spective P j g ridges- Thus, a y p 3,705,488 12/1972 Sholly et a1. 57/774 structured, high speed and economic false-twisting op- 3,777,467 12/1973 Enneking 57/774 erations can be obtained by the use of this apparatus.

Primary ExaminerJohn Petrakes Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cushman, Darby & Cushman 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures '2 IIO 37 27 H l I, (I I I {w v I3\ I 26 I4 I? 22 t I 19 I5 -lfffi H I vii iii. 25 I8 1:11:11}; 1 1111M IIIIIH 2O 23 r 16 h 39 [I l 3 :1: ,{E'

I [97,??41 I 34 IE: I 36 I1 HI I V I :1? l IIHI L f t i .1! i i :i t i 1.111. I: 1l111ll I l, l l l HHH US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sheet 1 of3 3,910,025

U.S. Patent Oct. 7,1 975 Sheet 2 of3 3,910,025

FALSE-TWISTING APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CRIMPS IN FILAMENT YARNS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION a. Field of the Present Invention The present invention is concerned with a falsetwisting apparatus for producing crimps in filament yarns, which is used in the manufacture of crimped yarns by the false twisting method.

b. Description of the Prior Art In the conventional false-twisting apparatuses, they can be divided roughly into the spindle system and the friction system. The spindle system has the advantage that the tension applied to the filament yarns located on that side where they are subjected to false twisting can be made relatively small. This system which requires a spindle for each filament yarn has a technical problem in that the respective spindles have to be rotated at an ultra-high speed in order to enhance the production efficiency. The friction system, on the other hand, has the inconvenience that, since no desired false twisting can be accomplished if the tension on the filament yarns located on the false twisting side is small, this tension on that side will necessarily have to be increased substantially.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to eliminate the aforesaid drawbacks and inconveniences of the false-twisting apparatuses of the prior art and to provide an improved apparatus which does not require spindles to be rotated at high speed and can accomplish false-twisting of a number of filament yarns simultaneously and at a relatively small tension on that portion of each of the filament yarns located on that side subjected to false-twisting and which does not cause the belts to be overheated during their run at a very high speed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the apparatus of the type described, which can be easily driven at a very high speed.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide the apparatus of the type described which further can manufacture evenly crimped filament yarns by the mere adjustment of the tension applied to the filament yarns. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide the apparatus of the type described which permits desirable false-twisting of filament yarns for producing crimps therein without causing any uneven portions of twists.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings show an example of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the apparatus partly broken away.

FIG. 2 is a plan view ofsame.

FIG. 3 is a side view of same, with parts broken away.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Description will hereunder be made on a preferred example of the apparatus of the present invention by referring to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, reference numeral 1 represents an attached base frame. A fixable board 2 and a slidable board 3 are mounted on this frame 1. A pair of frames 4 and 5 are secured to the fixable board 2 by screws. Another pair of frames 6 and 7 are secured to the slidable board 3 by screws. A pulley shaft 8 is rotatably provided on the frame 4 via an upper and a lower bearing 12. In the same manner, a pulley shaft 9 is rotatably provided on the frame 5 forming a pair with the pulley shaft 8, and another pulley shaft 10 is rotatably provided on the frame 6 and a still another pulley shaft 11 is rotatably provided on the frame 7 forming another pair. The pulley shaft 8 and 9 have pulleys l3 and 14, respectively, mounted thereon. Whereas, the pulley shafts l0 and 11 have pulleys 15 and 16, respectively, mounted thereon. Between the pulleys 13 and 14 is applied a first belt 17 made of rubber. In the same way, a second belt 18 made of rubber is applied between the pulleys 15 and 16.

As will be seen in FIG. 3 also, the first belt 17 has a plurality of (in this example, three) projecting ridges 19, 20 and 21 integrally formed longitudinally on the outer surface thereof in spaced parallel relations to each other. Whereas, the second belt 18 has at least one (in this example, two) projecting ridges 22 and 23 formed longitudinally on the outer surface thereof in spaced parallel relations to each other (in this example). The outer free ends of these projecting ridges each has a rounded, substantially semicircular cross section as seen in FIG. 3. These two belts are arranged so that their projecting ridges are positioned in such a zig-zag fashion that any one ridge of one of the belts is positioned between the adjacent two of the ridges of the other belt as will be best seen in FIG. 3. Throughout the backing member portions of these two belts 17 and 18 are embedded cotton yarns 24 and 25, respectively, for the prevention of expansion and elongation of the belts.

The first belt 17 is caused to travel by driving a V-belt pulley mounted on the pulley shaft 9. On the other hand, the second belt 18 is caused to travel by driving a V-belt pulley provided on the pulley shaft 10. These two belts l7 and 18 are applied between their pulleys so as to have straightly extending regions 26 and 27, respectively. These straightly extending regions 26 and 27 are arranged to be parallel with each other. These two belts 17 and 18 are driven in such a way that the aforesaid straightly extending region 26 of the first belt 17 travels in the direction opposite to that of the travel of the straightly extending region 27 of the second belt 18.

The fixable board 2 is fixed to the attachment base frame 1 by utilizing bolt-receiving holes 30 and 31. It should be understood, however, that arrangement is provided so that the board 2 may be released from its conditions of being fixed to the frame 1 and that it may be rotated horizontally about the shaft axis of the pulley shaft 9 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2.

The slidable board 3 is mounted on the attachment base frame 1 in such a way that it can make sliding movements along a guide rail 34 relative to this base frame 1 in a direction perpendicular to the sheet of drawing in FIG. I, and vertically in FIG. 2, and sideways in FIG. 3. It should be understood that, where required, this slidable board 3 can be fixed to the attachment base frame 1 by utilizing the lengthy boltreceiving holes 32 and 33. By sliding this slidable board 3, it is possible to adjust the parallel distances between the straightly extending region 26 of the first belt 17 and the straightly extending region 27 of the second belt 18. This adjustment may be performed manually while watching the graduations 35 provided on the attachment base frame 1. However, since in this example, the adjustment screw 36 of a distance adjusting means threadably engages the slidable board 3, the adjustment is to be made by rotating the adjustment screw 36. A round knob 41 is fixed by a screw 42 to the adjustment screw 36. The round knob 41 is rotatably received within a fixed U-shaped guide 43 which is fixed to the frame 1.

The filament yarns 37 which are to be subjected to false twisting are false-twisted successively as they are fed to travel along and in pressure contact successively with thecontact surfaces of the projecting ridges 19, 22, 20, 23 and 21 of the straightly extending regions 26 and 27 of the belts 17 and 18 after they are introduced thereto through the inlet guides 38 as will be described later. Therefrom, the filament yarns 37 pass via the output guides 39 and through the opening 40 of the base frame 1. The tension which is applied to the filament yarns during the false-twisting operation may fluctuate, deviating from the required optimum value. Such fluctuation in the tension of the filament yarns being processed may be detected by a suitable means such as the one explained in detail in my copending US. application Ser. No. 321,978, filed Jan. 8, 1973, and now abandoned.

Also, for the sake of perfect correction and maintenance of the optimum tension of filament yarns, arrangement may be provided so that the positions of the inlet guides and the outlet guides are adjusted by the use of a suitable means such as the one explained in detail in my above-mentioned pending application, and this means is operatively associated with said tension fluctuation detecting means.

With the false-twisting apparatus for producing crimps in filament yarns having the aforesaid arrangement, the operation will be performed in the manner as stated below. At the time of starting the apparatus, the fixable board 2 is rotated above the shaft axis of that one pulley shaft 9 as shown by the two-dot chain lines given in FIG. 2, to widen the distance between the straightly extending region 26 of the first belt 17 and the straightly extending region 27 of the second belt 18. Filament yarns 37 to be false-twisted are passed via the inlet guides 38 between and along the contact surfaces of the projecting ridges 19, 22, 20, 23 and 21 of the straightly extending regions 26 and 27 while in contact successively with the surfaces of these ridges, and therefrom the filament yarns 37 are passed through the outlet guides 39 and through the opening 40 of the attachment frame.

Next, the fixable board 2 is adjusted in its position so that the straightly extending regions 26 and 27 are rendered parallel with each other as shown in solid lines given in FIG. 2. Then, by utilizing the bolt-receiving holes 30 and 31, the fixable board 2 is threadably fixed to the attachment base frame 1.

Then, by rotating the round knob 41 which is fixed to the adjustment screw 36 while watching the graduations 35 provided on the attachment base frame 1, the adjustment screw 36 is rotated so that the slidable board 3 is caused to slide along the guide rail 34. When there is thus established an optimum parallel distance between the straightly extending regions 26 and 27 relative to the filament yarns 37, the slidable board 3 is temporarily threadably fixed to the attachment base frame 1 by utilizing the lengthy bolt-receiving holes 32 and 33.

Next, the, V-belt pulleys 28 and 29 are driven to cause the straightly extending region 26 of the first belt 17 to travel in one direction and, along with this, to cause the straightly extending region 27 of the second belt 18 to run in the oppoiste direction. At the same time therewith, the respective filament yarns 37 are simultaneously introduced into the apparatus via the inlet guides 38 to travel towards the outlet guides 39 in a manner as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

Whereupon, the filament yarns 37 pass along and between the projecting ridges 19, 22, 20, 23 and 21 of the straightly extending regions 26 and 27 while successively contacting their surfaces under tension and in alternate fashion. Since the spaced projecting ridges 19, 20 and 21 and the spaced projecting ridges 22 and 23 of those straightly extending regions 26 and 27 travel in directions opposite to each other, the filament yarns 37 are given the required false twisting during their passage at these two groups of spaced projecting ridges.

As discussed above, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a first belt applied between two spaced pulleys and having a straightly extending region between its two pulleys, and a second belt applied between two spaced pulleys other than those for the first belt and having a straightly extending region between its two pulleys and being parallel with the straightly extending region of the first belt and being caused to travel in a direction opposite to that of travel of the similar region of the first belt, and said apparatus is operative in such a manner that the filament yarns to be subjected to a crimp-developing false-twisting process are passed between and along projecting ridges of the straightly extending regions of the two belts while the filament yarns are successively brought into contact with the contact surfaces of all of the projecting ridges of these straightly extending regions one after another in alternate fashion, thereby giving false-twisting to these filament yarns. Thus, it is possible to accomplish the crimp-developing false-twisting process of a number of filament yarns simultaneously under the same conditons by a single false-twisting apparatus to develop crimps in these filament yarns. Therefore, the apparatus of the present invention not only is suitable for mass production, but also there is no need of increasing the number and the capacity of the heating means used for the crimp-developing purpose in proportion to an increase in the number of the filament yarns to be processed. As a result, the cost of construction and operation can be markedly reduced. Moreover, crimpdeveloping false-twisting of the filament yarns is performed by the cooperation of (a) those spaced projecting ridges of the straightly extending region of the first belt which runs in a certain direction and (b) those spaced projecting ridges of the straightly extending region of the second belt which travels in the opposite direction. Therefore, this false-twisting operation is accomplished with no failure. Furthermore, even in case the filament yarns tend to be carried along in the direction of travel of the straightly extending region of the first belt, such a tendency is offset by the fact that the filament yarns are carried back in the opposite direction by the straightly extending region of the second belt. Accordingly, there is no fear whatsoever that the adjacently disposed individual filament yarns become entangled with each other during the false-twisting operation. In addition, the crimp-developing process is performed on the filament yarns under the condition of a low tension. This means that the filament yarns at the setting zone have a small tension which is very desirable. Not only that, but also the detection of the possible fluctuation in the tension of the filament yarns as well as the measurement of this fluctuating tension can be made very easily by the use of such means as those described in my aforesaid pending applications. Also, an increase in the speed of travel of the belts to raise the speed of the crimp-developing false-twisting process may be effected by increasing the speed of rotation of the pulleys. In case, however, there is a limitation to the speed of rotation of the pulleys, an increase in the speed of travel of the belts may be materialized easily by increasing the diameter of the pulleys.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, one of the belts is made so that it has a plurality of spaced projecting ridges formed to run longitudinally on the outer surface thereof and the other one of the belts has at least one projecting ridge formed thereon to run longitudinally thereof. In addition thereto, according to the present invention, the parallel distance between said two straightly extending regions of the two belts is kept to be appropriate so as to enable a required crimpdeveloping false-twisting to be given to the filament yarns as the filament yarns are passed from one projecting ridge of the straightly extending region of one of the belts over to one projecting ridge of the straightly extending region of the other one of the belts and therefrom over to the next projecting ridge of the straightly extending region of said one of the belts in alternate contact fashion. Unlike the arrangement wherein said one of the belts is comprised of a plurality of separate belts, the respective projecting ridges of this one of the belts travel, no doubt, under the same and uniform condition relative to the filament yarns requiring to be false-twisted. Therefore, it is possible to accomplish a required false-twisting of filament yarns without causing any uneven false-twisted portions to develop in the filament yarns.

As described above, the present invention is simple in structure and assures unfailing false-twisting of filament yarns. Thus, the present invention provides a great deal of advantages.

I claim:

1. In a false-twisting apparatus for producing crimps in filament yarns comprising:

a first set of two spaced pulleys,

a first endless belt having a backing member applied between said two spaced pulleys to have a straightly extending region therebetween and having a plurality of endless longitudinally extending,

transversely spaced projecting ridges integrally formed on said backing member of this first belt,

a second set of two spaced pulleys,

a second endless belt having a respective second backing member applied between said second set of two spaced pulleys to have a straightly extending region therebetween and having at least one endless longitudinally extending projecting ridge integrally formed on said second backing member,

said straightly extending region of said second belt being parallel with and opposite to the straightly extending region of said first belt, in staggered relation thereto,

the direction of travel of said straightly extending region of said second belt being the opposite of the direction of travel of said first belt,

said at least one projecting ridge in the straightly extending region of said second belt being positioned between two adjacent projecting ridges in the straightly extending region of said first belt, and

means for adjusting the parallel distance between the straightly extending regions of the first and the second belts to enable the required false-twisting to be given to filament yarns fed from one of the projecting ridges in the straightly extending region of one of said belts to a projecting ridge in the straightly extending region of the other of the belts and therefrom to the next projecting ridge in the straightly extending region of said one of said belts in alternate contact with the respective projecting ridges in the straightly extending regions of these two belts.

2. In a false-twisting apparatus according to claim 1, said projecting ridges each has an outer surface which is of a rounded, semi-circular cross section.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 including means for preventing expansion and elongation of said first and second belts.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said preventing means includes cotton yarn embedded in the said backing members of said first and second belts.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said second belt backing member has at least a second endless longitudinally extending projecting ridge integrally formed on said second backing member and being transversely spaced from said one ridge thereon,

one of said projecting ridges of said first belt being positioned between said one and second ridges of said second belt in the straightly extending region of said second belt. 6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein each of the projecting ridges on each of said belts has a rounded, semicircular cross section. 

1. In a false-twisting apparatus for producing crimps in filament yarns comprising: a first set of two spaced pulleys, a first endless belt having a backing member applied between said two spaced pulleys to have a straightly extending region therebetween and having a plurality of endless longitudinally extending, transversely spaced projecting ridges integrally formed on said backing member of this first belt, a second set of two spaced pulleys, a second endless belt having a respective second backing member applied between said second set of two spaced pulleys to have a straightly extending region therebetween and having at least one endless longitudinally extending projecting ridge integrally formed on said second backing member, said straightly extending region of said second belt being parallel with and opposite to the straightly extending region of said first belt, in staggered relation thereto, the direction of travel of said straightly extending region of said second belt being the opposite of the direction of travel of said first belt, said at least one projecting ridge in the straightly extending region of said second belt being positioned between two adjacent projecting ridges in the straightly extending region of said first belt, and means for adjusting the parallel distance between the straightly extending regions of the first and the second belts to enable the required false-twisting to be given to filament yarns fed from one of the projecting ridges in the straightly extending region of one of said belts to a projecting ridge in the straightly extending region of the other of the belts and therefrom to the next projecting ridge in the straightly extending region of said one of said belts in alternate contact with the respective projecting ridges in the straightly extending regions of these two belts.
 2. In a false-twisting apparatus according to claim 1, said projecting ridges each has an outer surface which is of a rounded, semi-circular cross section.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 1 including means for preventing expansion and elongation of said first and second belts.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said preventing means includes cotton yarn embedded in the said backing members of said first and second belts.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said second belt backing member has at least a second endless longitudinally extending projecting ridge integrally formed on said second backing member and being transversely spaced from said one ridge thereon, one of said projecting ridges of said first belt being positioned between said one and second ridges of said second belt in the straightly extending region of said second belt.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein each of the projecting ridges on each of said belts has a rounded, semi-circular cross section. 